Page:VCH Cornwall 1.djvu/298

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A HISTORY OF CORNWALL reports that the spider does not leave this retreat in search of prey, but waits in the slack portion of the tube lying outside the burrow until some insect sets foot upon this silken, purse-like structure. Instantly the fangs of the spider's mandibles are stuck through the walls of the tube, the insect seized and dropped into the burrow through a rent in the silk, which is afterwards mended from within. The male is smaller, almost black, and may sometimes be found moving slowly about in the sunshine in the neighbourhood of the colony. The species occurs all along the coast from Hastings to the Land's End, and in various localities inland. On the Cornish coast I have found it on the downs close to the edge of the cliffs under stones. The spider has also been recorded under the names A. sulzerl and A. piceus by English authors. DYSDERIDAE Spiders with six eyes and two pairs of stigmatic openings, situated close together on the genital rima ; the anterior pair communicating with lung books, the posterior with tracheal tubes. Tarsal claws, two in Dysdera, three in Harfactes and Segestria. 2. Dysdera cambridgii, Thorell. Saltash (G. C. B.). Not uncommon under stones and bark of trees, where it lurks within a tubular retreat. The spider is easily recognizable by its elongate form, orange legs, dark mahogany carapace, and pale clay yellow abdomen. The palpal bulb of the male has no cross-piece at the apex. The spider is also known as D. erythrina, Blackwall. 3. Dysdera crocota, C. L. Koch. Gerrans Bay. Larger than the last species, with a deep orange- pink carapace, orange legs, and abdomen with a delicate rose-pink flush. The palpal bulb of the male has a cross-piece at the apex. This spider is also known as D. rubicunda, Blackwall. 4. Harfactes homberglt, Scopoli. Whitsand Bay (G. C. B.). Rare under bark of trees, and recognizable by its linear ant-like form, black carapace, and pale clay yellow abdomen and three tarsal claws. 5. Segestria senoculata, Linnaeus. Polperro. Not common ; under bark of trees, in the crevices of loose stone walls and amongst detached rocks. Recognized by its linear form and black diamond- shaped blotches on the dorsal surface of the abdomen. 6. Omops pulcher, Templeton. Liskeard. Rare ; a very small linear brick-red spider, often found on the walls of bedrooms, as well as beneath stones. DRASSIDAE Spiders with eight eyes, situated in two transverse rows. The tracheal openings lie just in front of the spinners. The tarsal claws are two in number, the anterior pair of spinners are set wide apart at the base, and the maxillae are more or less impressed across the middle. 7. Drasiodes lapidosut, Walckenaer. Polperro ; Looe ; Liskeard. Very common under stones. Also known as Drastus lapidicolens. 8. Scotophaeus blackwallii, Thorell. Liskeard. A dark elongate mouse-grey spider, often found wandering about the walls of dwelling- and out-houses at night. Known also as Drassus serictus, Blackwall. 9. Prostheslma petiverii, Scopoli. Downderry Cliffs (G. C. B.). 10. Prosthestma pedestris, C. L. Koch. Whitsand Bay ; Downderry Cliffs (G. C. B.) ; Polperro. 1 1 . Micaria puRcarla, Sundevall. Mawnan, Polperro. A brilliant little spider with iridescent scales on its body. Not uncommon running about in the hot sunshine. Known also as Drassus nltens and Drassus micans, Blackwall. 12. M icaria scintillans, O. P.-Cambridge. Downderry Cliffs (G. C. B.). A much rarer and rather larger species found be- neath stones or running about in the hot sunshine. A male and two females were taken by Mr. Bignell in May. 13. Micarlosoma festtvum, C. L. Koch. Liskeard. Very similar in general appearance to those of the last genus, but smaller and more ant-like. Known also as Phrunllthus festivus and Drassus propin- guus, Blackwall. Spiders with eight eyes, situated in two transverse rows. The tracheal openings lie immediately in front of the spinners. The tarsal claws are two in num- ber, but the anterior pair of spinners are set close together at the base ; the maxillae are convex and not impressed across the middle. CLUBIONIDAE 1 4. Lycodia sptnimana, Sundevall. Gerrans Bay. Known also as Zora and Hecaerge tpinimana or maculata. 246